Vyatka MG-150: the Soviet version of the light-duty Vespa

In July 1956, the designers of the Vyatka-Polyansk Plant (VPMZ), in cooperation with specialists from the Central Experimental Design Bureau for Motorcycle Construction in the city of Serpukhov, Moscow Region, began work on a 150 cc class scooter. The lack of time and lack of experience forced the team to use already established and tested technology in the form of the Vespa 150GS. The main dimensions were taken from the Italian prototype and the necessary drawings were prepared on their basis. VPMZ installed an assembly line and the necessary machines for the conveyor production of scooters and the corresponding units, technological lines were also prepared for the production of cylinders, crankcases and other parts, and for this purpose more than 1,000 dies and over 2,000 other devices were made magazin de piese auto online.

Vyatka MG-150: the Soviet version of the light-duty Vespa

In the fall of 1956, the first three trial scooters were completed, and in 1957, the first production models of the VP-150 "Vyatka" rolled off the assembly line of the VPMZ.

By the end of 1957, 1,668 scooters had been produced, and the 100,000th model rolled off the factory in 1961. In December 1965, production of the new VP-150M model began, which was a completely updated version of the original. Throughout 1966, both models were produced in parallel, and at the end of the same year, production of the first Vyatka was discontinued.

The first serial Soviet scooter was distinguished by a maximally simplified engine design that did not require complex adjustments and could operate even with the cheapest Soviet gasoline A-66 at the time.

The differences between the Vespa and the Vyatka are minor and are limited to the positioning of the company emblem, the decorative red five-pointed flag that appeared on the 1960 series, the size of the central part of the handlebars and the headlight, respectively, the round speedometer on the Soviet version, which on the Vespa is elliptical, and the ignition switch, which on the Vyatka is located separately, while on the Vespa it is integrated with the headlight. The base of the Vyatka is 4 cm longer, and the mass is 7 kg higher, since the metal casing is made of thicker sheet metal. There are only three gears, while on the Vespa 150GS there are four.

Production of the universal three-wheeled version began about three years after the appearance of the first serial models. In November and December 1959, at the representative exhibition "Motorcycles and Scooters", organized at the Moscow Polytechnic Museum, various modifications of the three-wheeled "Vyatka" were shown, in which the engine was pulled forward and located just under the rider's seat. The torque was transmitted through a conical differential, from which the rotation was transmitted through gears to each of the rear driving wheels separately. It is interesting to note that in this case the rear wheel suspension was torsion, which in those years was still a relatively rare practice.

The three-wheeled "Vyatka" is available in several versions - MG-150 with a box body, MG-150P with a standard cargo platform and MG-150S with a dump body. The load capacity of the tricycles is 250 kg, and their maximum speed reaches 35 km/h. In the 1960s, most of these versions were well known in Bulgaria, and several books were published in Bulgarian about their maintenance and operation.

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In the fall of 1956, the first three trial scooters were completed, and in 1957, the first production models of the VP-150 "Vyatka" rolled off the assembly line of the VPMZ

By the end of 1957, 1,668 scooters had been produced, and the 100,000th model rolled off the factory in 1961